ON THE ROAD

Yeager Airport’s new Woody Williams Military Flight Operations Center was dedicated last week in honor of Medal of Honor recipient, and my dear friend, Hershel "Woody" Williams. This facility will support military training in WV and is a fitting tribute to Woody’s heroism and service to our country.

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As one of the founding fathers of the Summit Bechtel Reserve Scout Camp, I cannot think of a more fitting tribute to Steve Antoline's legacy than the Steve Antoline Family Conservation Center and Trail. The Conservation Center will offer hands-on exhibits, projects, and a laboratory for scouts and youth to further understand and promote conservation efforts. This project is being designed and built by Steve, along with collaborative efforts from the Boy Scouts of America and West Virginia University. I was honored to write a Congressional Record Statement commemorating this wonderful occasion, and Gayle was able to attend in person and read it on my behalf.

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Ryan Thorn attended the grand opening of Pietro Fiorentini in Weirton. This world-class facility represents Pietro Fiorentini’s first permanent manufacturing location in the United States and I am so proud to see it come to fruition.  I truly appreciate Mario Nardi CEO of Pietro, Weirton Mayor Harold Miller, and Pat Ford and Marvin Six of Business Development Corporations of the Northern Panhandle for making this grand opening possible.

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Regional Coordinator Mike Browning brought greetings on my behalf to wish Wetzel “Sundown” Sanders, a Purple Heart recipient and member of our Greatest Generation, a very happy 96th Birthday. Thank you for your service, Mr. Sanders!

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Last week marked the beginning of some of our state's favorite annual festivals. From the Wayne County Fair and the WV Hot Dog Festival in Huntington, to MountainFest and the Battelle District Fair in Monongalia County, to the Grecian Festival and the Upper Ohio Valley Italian Heritage Festival in the Northern Panhandle, there is such a variety of tradition and heritage to celebrate in the Mountain State. There are countless local fairs across our home state and I encourage you to stop by or plan a trip to enjoy all our WV fairs and festivals have to offer.

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(Upper Ohio Valley Italian Festival, WV Hot Dog Festival, Grecian Festival)

 

ON THE HILL

It was great to meet the American Legion Boys Nation delegates from WV, Nazar Abbas and Carson Winkie, and Girls Nation Senators Katelyn Aluise and Maeve Leyden. Thank you for representing the Mountain State so well.

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Last week, I met with fellow West Virginians, Dr. Brian Anderson (right) from NETL and Dr. John Deskins (center) from West Virginia University who arrived to testify in front of Senate Energy Democrats. They shared their knowledge about the groundbreaking energy innovation coming out of our state.

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I met with miners last week about the need to strengthen Black Lung benefits and address the resurgence of Black Lung. My bill, the American Miners Act, would restore financing for the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund, which 25,000 miners and their dependents rely on for medical treatment.

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I was honored to meet the members of the Charleston PAL (Police Athletic League). This club is the first of its kind in the state with a goal to strengthen community relations among the city's youth and the local police department. The program is open to all children ages 5-18 and hosts activities that take place during non-school hours.

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SAVE THE DATE
MANCHIN TO JOIN 5TH ANNUAL MOTORCYCLE RIDE FOR FALLEN SERVICE HEROES

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I am honored to participate once again as the Special Guest Road Captain for the Fifth Annual Ride for Fallen Service Heroes on Saturday, August 17, 2019. This year’s ride benefits the West Virginia National Guard Foundation, the families of Fallen Service Members, and the establishment of a new Gold Star monument in West Virginia.

Every year, this ride is an awe-inspiring tribute, across the beautiful rolling hills of West Virginia, to our nation’s heroes. Our Mountain State is patriotic in the truest sense – West Virginians have answered the call to service more than nearly any other state in the nation. This ride is one way to honor that extraordinary service, and it’s a profound honor to be part of it. We hope to see you there.

The round-trip motorcycle ride will travel from South Charleston to Buffalo, through Nitro and return to the WV National Guard Airbase in Charleston. Ride overview below: 

9:00am: Registration at Harley-Davidson of West Virginia; 4924 MacCorkle Avenue SW, South Charleston

10:00am: Depart Harley-Davidson in South Charleston

11:00 am: Arrive at Toyota in Buffalo for turn-around

12:00 pm: Arrive at end-point for picnic - National Guard Airbase; 1679 Coonskin Drive, Charleston 

Partners for the ride include Senator Manchin, Harley Davidson of WV, WV National Guard, the WV Vietnam Veterans of America, Capitol City WV Chapter #5439 Harley Owners Group, Gold Star Families, WOWK, the Hershel Woody Williams Medal of Honor Foundation and the Special Forces Association WV Chapter.

For more information about the 2019 Ride for Fallen Service Heroes, you can call Harley Davidson of WV at 304-768-1600 to register or do so online at http://www.sfanationalconvention.com/goldstarride. Visit our facebook page for more information, http://www.facebook.com/RideForFallenServiceHeroes/.

 

HOW MAY WE HELP YOU?

To request assistance from my case team, click here.

As your U.S. Senator, I am proud to be your voice with government agencies during your time of need. My goal is for me and my staff to provide the best possible customer service for every West Virginian who contacts me needing assistance. While I have no direct jurisdiction in legal or administrative matters of any federal, state, or local agency, I welcome the opportunity to assist you in any way possible and to assure that full consideration is given to your case. See one of our recent success stories below:

Kaitlyn Carter is a student with a 3.8 GPA who was diagnosed with Leukemia.  Prior to her diagnosis she worked as an RA to help pay for school.  After chemo and other medical procedures she was unable to work, making school a financial hardship for her and her family.  As a result of Caseworker Angie Retton's inquiry, the Fairmont State University Foundation presented Kaityln with a Louis Schoolnic Endowed Scholarship. 

 

IN YOUR COMMUNITY

To inform our office of community events we can showcase, click here.

Flood Ready Open House

Local experts are hosting a Flood Ready Open House, a community event for the Elk Valley Community that will help you manage your flood risk and provide information about flood insurance.

The Flood Ready Open House will take place on August 2nd from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. and August 3rd from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Elkview Middle School, 5090 Elk River Road, Elkview WV.

For more information regarding the Group Flood Insurance program or flood insurance in general, call the FEMA hotline at 800-621-3362 and press #2 or go online to www.floodsmart.gov.

 

Social Security Phone Scam - Learn How to Protect Yourself

Social Security employees do occasionally contact people--generally those who have ongoing business with the agency--by telephone for business purposes. However, Social Security employees will never threaten a person or promise a Social Security benefit approval, or increase, in exchange for information. In those cases, the call is fraudulent and people should not engage with the caller. If a person receives these calls, he or she should report the information to the OIG Fraud Hotline at 1-800-269-0271 or online at https://oig.ssa.gov/report.

To watch a PSA about the scam, click here or visit www.ssa.gov for more information.

 

To learn more, call my office Toll Free at (855) 275-5737, email me, or find me on social media:

             

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